What are Theatre groundlings?
A groundling was a person who visited the Red Lion, The Rose, or the Globe theatres in the early 17th century. They were too poor to pay to be able to sit on one of the three levels of the theatre. The groundlings were commoners who were also referred to as stinkards or penny-stinkers.
How did Shakespeare call the Groundlings?
It is thought that Shakespeare coined the word ‘groundlings’, which became the nickname for those audience members who stood at the theatre. The word ‘groundlings’ was actually the name of a small fish with a large, gaping mouth. The area where they stood was known as ‘the pit’ or ‘the yard.
Why are groundlings called groundlings?
Taking its name from the group of lower class audience members who stood on the ground in front of the stage to watch plays in Shakespeare’s day, “The Groundlings” was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization.
How did groundlings behave at the Theatre?
The groundlings were very close to the action on stage. They could buy food and drink during the performance – pippins (apples), oranges, nuts, gingerbread and ale. But there were no toilets and the floor they stood on was probably just sand, ash or covered in nutshells.
Who were the groundlings in Elizabethan theater?
Elizabethan general public or people who were not nobility were referred to as groundlings. They would pay one penny to stand in the Pit of the Globe Theater (Howard 75). The upper class spectators would pay to sit in the galleries often using cushions for comfort.
What does the term groundlings mean?
1a : a spectator who stood in the pit of an Elizabethan theater. b : a person of unsophisticated taste. 2 : one that lives or works on or near the ground.
Who were the Groundlings in Elizabethan theater?
What did the Groundlings do?
What did groundlings do to show that they were not enjoying the play?
What did groundlings do to show that they were not enjoying the play? The groundlings paid a penny to stand in “The Pit”, also called “The Yard”, just below the stage and watch the play. Standing in the pit was uncomfortable, and most times people were packed like sardines, keeping each other standing.
What did groundlings do for entertainment?
Globe Theatre Groundlings. The Globe Theatre Groundlings stood in the Yard, or pit, to watch the plays being performed. This was the cheapest part of the theatre, there were no seats and the entrance price was 1d which was equivalent to about 10% of a days wages.